BACK-TO-BACK ALL-MAC FOR GOTLUNDHuskie Is School's Third Two-Time First Team Selection

Kim Gotlund became the first Huskie since 2005 to earn All-MAC honors in three straight years.

March 19, 2014

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University senior Kim Gotlund (Wadsworth, Ill./Warren Township HS) was named to the first team All Mid-American Conference women's gymnastics squad Wednesday, becoming just the second NIU gymnast to earn that award in back-to-back seasons. It is the third consecutive season Gotlund has earned All-MAC honors as she was a second team selection in 2012.

Gotlund is one of five gymnasts selected by MAC head coaches to the All-MAC first team as she joined Marie Case of Kent State, Alyssa Nocella of Bowling Green, Central Michigan's Halle Moraw and Eastern Michigan's Anna Willette with the honor.

NIU Head Coach Sam Morreale said Gotlund's honor was well-deserved, but the senior is not finished yet.

"I couldn't be more happy or more proud for Kim to get this recognition," Morreale said. "It's a testament to her hard work and dedication and it's nice to see that recognized by the coaches in the league. She wants to end her career on a high note. It was something she dedicated to herself to at the start of the year and she's not done, she's got a shot at being a MAC champ and she's got a shot at [NCAA] regionals."

Gotlund's season has been marked by consistency. The senior has scored a 9.6 or higher on 36 of 40 routines in 2014, and reached the 9.7 mark 23 times. Eight of her 10 routines on floor exercise have scored above 9.700 and she has reached that mark or better on each of her last seven balance beam performances. She set or matched her career high of 9.800 on three events and her averages on balance beam (9.695) and floor exercise (9.733) lead NIU.

At Arizona State in the Huskies' final regular season competition last weekend, Gotlund scored career-high 39.075 in the all-around to earn MAC Gymnast of the Week honors. On the year, she has five all-around scores of 38.750 or higher.

Morreale said Gotlund's success is a direct result of the work she put into it.

"What sets Kim apart is her work ethic, her unselfishness, her attention to detail and her coachability," she said. "She takes constructive criticism and makes those corrections. She understands to be good, you have to practice."

Gotlund joins Holly Reichard (2008 and 2009) and Darlene Davis (1984, 1986) as the only two-time first-team All-MAC gymnasts in school history. She is one of three Huskies to make the All-MAC team three times along with Reyna Gilbert (second team in 1999, 2000 and 2001) and Kristina Campos (1st team in 2003, second team in 2004 and 2005).

Gotlund and NIU close out the regular season Saturday at the Mid-American Conference Championships in Ypsilanti, Mich. Eastern Michigan will host the seven-team competition at the Convocation Center at 1 p.m. (CT). Tickets are $10 for adults while youth, senior citizens, and MAC students with a valid school ID will be admitted for $5. Once the meet begins, live streaming of the championships can be found at EMUEagles.com/showcase.